Oak Grove, KY – The United States Harness Driving Club (USHDC) continued their “season-of-giving” on Monday (June 22) with Safe Harbor Sanctuary the beneficiary while Rocket Russell teamed up with Adarryl Gates, Jr. to win the USHDC feature at Oak Grove Racing and Gaming.
“Safe Harbor Sanctuary is a very important part of our charitable agenda,” said USHDC President Dein Spriggs, “and our calendar of giving is made possible because of the cooperation of the Director of Racing here, Cara Collins, with whose help make our donations possible.”
Indeed, Ms. Collins makes sure that the racing department gives the USHDC the racing power as their membership donates 100% of their driver earnings in their races, earmarked for donations.
“These Amateur events are very important as they reflect on how racing can benefit worthy charitable causes in the community and bring out new fans to enjoy the excitement and beauty of harness racing—a win-win for everyone,” explained Collins.
Safe Harbor is an all-volunteer network of foster farms in middle Tennessee and South-Central Kentucky dedicated to transitioning retired Standardbred racehorses into new careers in forever homes further outreaching to benefit humans, as well.
Monday’s feature at Oak Grove Racing and Gaming was annexed by Rocket Russell, perfectly handled and rated by Adarryl Gates, Jr. to score by a well-measured neck over Dontinvitemein, driven by Danarius Dortch, in 1:56.4
The 8-5 favorite, Mistertenahkey, with Peter Kleinhans handling the lines, finished third, less than a length away at the finish with Rogers Image and Jill Brown next.
Power Code picked up the nickel for OD Johnson.
As the wings folded, Rocket Russell, a 7-year-old gelded son of Downbytheseaside, beginning from the outside post seven—originally scheduled with nine—was in a brief battle with Dontinvitemein but Rocket Russell rocketed to the lead setting the standards with initial quarter times of :28.2 and :58.4.
Rogers Image was first to pull from fourth and marched up alongside Dontinvitemein with those two racing as a team taking on Rocket Russell with Mistertenahkey now in search of some room to roam.
But during that third stanza, Gates had Rocket Russell on a :28.3 mission thwarting any serious threats.
Once straightened away, Rocket Russell used a :29.2 closer to seal the deal by a long neck.
In a post race interview, Gates related, “My horse fits this class nicely and, once I was able to get to the half in :58.4, I was confident he could go all the way from there.
“The other thing that helped was having the field scratched down to seven, instead of having to start from way outside. He raced like the good horse he is.”
Trained by Matt Rodriguez for Garcia Power, Inc. of Illinois, Rocket Russell was fourth choice in the betting at 7-1 and rewarded his faithful with a $16.56 mutuel for the win.
The USHDC, is now in its 30th season of charitable giving and making contributions to local, regional and national 501-C-3 charitable organizations.